10. IGNOU MARD Project
The IGNOU MARD Project is a compulsory research project for students of the Master of Arts in Rural Development programme offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University. This project is generally submitted under course code MRDP-001 and involves conducting a field-based rural development study. 🌾📊
Below is a complete detailed step-by-step guide.
1. Objective of IGNOU MARD Project 🎯
The project aims to:
- Study rural development issues
- Conduct field survey in village area
- Analyse government schemes / rural problems
- Suggest practical solutions
Typical length: 60–80 pages
2. Choose a Suitable Topic 🧠
Your topic must relate to rural development.
Example Topics
- Impact of MGNREGA on rural employment
- Self Help Groups role in women empowerment
- Rural sanitation programme study
- Agricultural development study
- Rural education problems
- Drinking water facilities in village
- Rural health services analysis
- Poverty alleviation programmes
✔ Choose local village topic for easy data collection.
3. Define Objectives 📌
Write 3–5 objectives
Example:
- To study employment generation
- To analyse income level
- To identify problems faced by villagers
4. Prepare Synopsis (Project Proposal) 📝
You must prepare Synopsis before writing full project.
Synopsis Format
- Title of study
- Introduction
- Need of study
- Objectives
- Research methodology
- Sample
- Tools
- Data collection procedure
- Statistical analysis
Example:
- Sample: 50 villagers
- Tool: Questionnaire
- Analysis: Percentage
5. Get Synopsis Approved ✔
- Submit synopsis to Study Centre / Guide
- Wait for approval
- Start project only after approval
6. Select Sample 👥
Recommended:
- 30–100 respondents
- Farmers / women / youth / villagers
Mention:
- Age group
- Occupation
- Income group
7. Data Collection Tools 🧪
You can use:
- Questionnaire
- Interview schedule
- Observation
- Government records
8. Data Collection 📊
Steps:
- Visit village
- Explain purpose
- Ask questions
- Record responses
- Prepare tables
9. Statistical Analysis 📈
Simple methods acceptable:
- Percentage
- Mean
- Bar charts
- Pie charts
10. MARD Project Report Format 📚
Chapter 1 – Introduction
- Background
- Need of study
- Objectives
- Scope
- Limitations
Chapter 2 – Review of Literature
- Previous studies
- Concept explanation
Chapter 3 – Methodology
- Sample
- Tools
- Procedure
Chapter 4 – Data Analysis
- Tables
- Charts
- Interpretation
Chapter 5 – Findings & Suggestions
- Findings
- Recommendations
- Conclusion
11. Mandatory Pages 📄
- Title Page
- Certificate
- Declaration
- Acknowledgement
- Table of Contents
12. Ending Pages 📑
- References
- Appendix
- Questionnaire
- Photos (optional)
13. Formatting Guidelines ✍
- Font: Times New Roman
- Size: 12
- Line spacing: 1.5
- Margin: Left 1.5 inch
- Page numbers bottom
14. Binding Instructions 📘
- Hard binding
- Black/Blue cover
- Single side printing
15. Submission Process 📦
Submit to:
- Study centre OR
- Regional centre
Attach:
- Guide certificate
- Approved synopsis
16. Evaluation Criteria 🧾
Marks based on:
- Field work
- Data collection
- Analysis
- Practical suggestions
- Presentation
17. Ideal Timeline ⏳
- Topic selection → 2 days
- Synopsis → 3 days
- Approval → 1 week
- Field visit → 4 days
- Analysis → 3 days
- Writing → 6 days
Total ≈ 3 weeks
18. Common Mistakes to Avoid ⚠
❌ No field survey
❌ Very small sample
❌ Copy paste content
❌ No data analysis
❌ Missing questionnaire
19. Standard IGNOU MARD Project Structure
- Title Page
- Certificate
- Declaration
- Acknowledgement
- Contents
- Chapter 1 – Introduction
- Chapter 2 – Literature Review
- Chapter 3 – Methodology
- Chapter 4 – Analysis
- Chapter 5 – Findings
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendix